Personnel transport device with computerized information and display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A transport device which includes computerized apparatus useful for obtaining and displaying information. In one embodiment, the computerized apparatus includes a display to device and speech recognition apparatus configured to receive user speech and/or other input and enable performance of various tasks, such as obtaining desired information. In one variant, the computerized apparatus is configured to establish a plurality of ad hoc data links with portable user devices present within the transport device, thereby enabling passengers to, among other things, wirelessly and simultaneously obtain data from a remote server or network such as the Internet. In another variant, the transport device includes a plurality of display devices within its passenger compartment so as to permit substantially simultaneous individual user viewing and interaction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of personnel transportapparatus, and specifically to elevators and similar devices fortransporting people from one location to another which incorporatevarious information technologies.

2. Description of Related Technology

Elevators and similar personnel transport devices (such as movingwalkways or shuttles) are important aspects of modern urban life.Commonly used in office buildings, airports, shopping malls, and otherlarge structures, these devices transport large numbers of people andequipment between two locations on a routine basis. Elevators inparticular are widely used throughout the world.

Depending on loading, a person may spend up to several minutes on anelevator during travel between floors. Significant amounts of time mayalso be spent waiting for the elevator to arrive when called. This timeis usually “dead” from the standpoint that very little can beaccomplished or very few tasks undertaken during these few minutes.However, often times an individual may require information which will beof use after leaving the elevator. For example, the person may wish toobtain travel information such as directions to the nearest airport orpublic transportation node, or the location of a nearby restaurant.Weather-related information or traffic reports may also be useful. Aplethora of different types of information, including financial data,breaking news headlines, sports scores and the like may also be ofinterest to one waiting for or riding on an elevator or other transportdevice.

An associated problem relates to determining the location of a person,firm, or store within a building when unfamiliar. Building directoriesare often posted in the lobby of the building, yet these require theuser to manually or visually locate the name of the person, firm, orstore which they are looking for, and remember the location informationassociated therewith. Additionally, such directories often do notprovide precise location information, but rather merely a floor numberand/or suite number. The user often times does not have a graphicalrepresentation of the desired location in relation to the elevators,thereby resulting in additional wasted time in finding the location onceoff of the elevator. Even if a graphical display is provided, it oftenrequires the user to spatially orient themselves to determine relativelocation.

Security is also a concern when riding elevators late at night or toremote locations. Many elevator systems are used partly or entirelywithin parking garages, which often may be sparsely populated at offhours. People are all too frequently assaulted or robbed when departingfrom elevators under such conditions. Unfortunately, existing elevatorsystems do not have the facility to provide the occupant(s) with theability to selectively observe the area immediately surrounding theelevator doors on one or more destination floors, or otherwise takeprecautions to enhance their security.

Another problem associated with existing elevator systems relates totheir loading capacity. Often, especially at peak use hours such asduring the noon hour, the call buttons for several different floorswithin a building will be activated, and elevator cars which are at ornear their loading capacity will respond. With no additional roomavailable in the elevator, the person depressing the call button on agiven floor is left to wait for the elevator doors to close, depress thecall button again, and wait for another (hopefully partially vacant) carto arrive. This process not only delays the person waiting for the car,but also those on the elevator car(s), and those waiting on otherfloors.

In addition to the foregoing, many elevators must have a means ofrestricting access to certain floors during certain time periods whilenot interfering with other operations. These elevators generally alsoinclude means by which certain users may gain access to the restrictedfloors, such as a magnetic striped card which is inserted into a cardreader on the elevator. However, such card readers are prone to wear andhaving to re-swipe the card several times in order to obtain access.Furthermore, as the card wears due to repeated swiping or bending (suchas when left in the pocket of the individual carrying the card), thecard will be more prone to failure and will eventually requirereplacement. Also, such cards are prone to unauthorized use. Someonestealing or finding the lost card can simply insert it into the cardreader of the elevator and gain access to the restricted floor(s). It isalso noted that since access is restricted to certain floors typicallyduring late-night or weekend hours, HVAC and lighting systems aretypically turned off or dormant in order to conserve energy. Hence, whenthe user arrives at one of these restricted access floors, severalminutes are typically spent turning on the HVAC, lights, and any othernumber of electrical devices. Some systems require the user to inserttheir magnetic strip card in a separate reader, such as in the controlroom for the HVAC (which is typically located on a different floor), inorder to initiate equipment operation. This is obviously time consumingand cumbersome.

Lastly, there is often an element of discomfort associated with ridingan elevator car, especially when several individuals are present in thecar. Due in part to minimal space within the car and nothing to occupythe occupants attention visually, there is a natural tendency for one tostare up, down, or forward at the door of the elevator, or at the visualfloor indicators so as to avoid prolonged eye contact with the otheroccupants.

Heretofore, many of the technologies necessary to address theaforementioned issues have not been available or, alternatively, havebeen cost or space prohibitive to implement. However, recent advances indata networking, thin or flat panel display technology, personalelectronics, and speech recognition and compression algorithms andprocessing have enhanced the viability of such features from bothtechnological and commercial perspectives.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need for an improved elevator systemand method of operation which will reduce the time spent waiting for andtravelling on the elevator car, reduce the frustration associated withrepeated stops at different floors, and allow the occupants of theelevator (as well as those waiting for the car) to use their time moreefficiently and obtain needed information. Additionally, such anelevator system would enhance the security of the occupants upon egress,and allow for automatic recognition of an individual in order to provideaccess to certain restricted locations and initiation of certainfunctions such as lighting and HVAC.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the aforementioned needs by providing animproved elevator information and control system and method of operatingthe same

In a first aspect, the present invention provides an improved elevatorinformation and control system which enables an user to rapidly locate adesired firm or individual. In a first embodiment, the system includesan interactive building directory having a speech recognition system andother input device such as a touch pad. The user utilizes the inputdevice to activate the system, and then speaks the name of the firm orindividual whose location is desired. A speech generation algorithm andprocessor generates speech (and/or a graphical representation via aminimum profile flat panel display) based on data retrieved from adatabase per the user's request. The user is also prompted to determineif they desire to select the floor of the firm or individual that theywere trying to locate. The user then may use the speech recognitionsystem, or alternatively the aforementioned input device, to respond.The database also maintains data on other nearby buildings in case theuser is at the wrong location.

In a second aspect of the invention, the information and control systemfurther includes a network interface that is coupled to theaforementioned input and display devices. In one embodiment, the network(e.g., Internet) interface is configured to provide rapid access to avariety of web sites or URLs of interest, such as those providing localweather, directions from the elevator to local points of interest, stockmarket quotations, breaking news headlines, etc. Preset functions areprovided which enable the user to access, download, and display thedesired information with a single actuation of the input device. Aplurality of different input/display devices are disposed within thesmart elevator to allow multiple occupants to obtain informationsimultaneously.

In a third aspect of the invention, the smart elevator includes one ormore data terminals which are compatible with personal electronicdevices (PEDs) so as to allow an occupant of the elevator to download apredetermined or adaptively determined “package” of data for laterretrieval or use. Such data may include news, weather, financial data,listings of building tenants, firm resumes, parking rates, hours ofoperation, and the like. In one embodiment, the download of data isinitiated automatically upon the insertion of the PED into the dataterminal, thereby reducing the time necessary to download to a minimum.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, the information and control systemincludes a sensor array and logic which detects the loading of theelevator car and selectively bypasses floors when the car's capacity ismet, unless the floor is selected by one of the occupants of the car. Inone embodiment, the flooring of the elevator car is equipped withpiezoelectric sensors that generate signals based on the pressureapplied to them. This pressure is correlated to the weight and locationof the occupants in the car, and with the number of different floorsselected, to derive an estimate of the occupancy. When the capacity ofthe elevator is reached as determined by this estimate, any subsequentcall signals received by the system are routed to another available car.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, the aforementioned display devicewithin the car may be configured to provide a video display of the areaimmediately surrounding access to the elevator on certain floors, suchas parking garages. The user can over-ride the car stopping at thatfloor if desired, contact security, and/or initiate temporary additionallighting in the area via a series of fixed or “soft” function keys. Amotion sensor is also optionally used to provide the elevator user withTO information regarding the presence of moving objects in areasadjacent to but out of view of the video units. When accessing a parkinggarage or structure, the user may also input the location of their carusing additional function keys; lighting and security monitoring of thepath between the elevator and the car is then initiated to enhance usersafety.

In a sixth aspect of the invention, an RFID tag and reader system isemployed to uniquely identify occupants and provide them access tocertain floors. RFID monitors with limited ranges are placed in certainlocations near the elevator access points. These monitors interrogatethe RFID tags and initiate a call signal for specific floor duringafter-hours operation. The user is then required to authenticate via apassword input via the input device located inside elevator. Theelevator system can optionally notify security (and/or the destinationfloor) of the individual's destination and identity, and maintain arecord of access. The user may also optionally perform other functionssuch as lighting and environmental control from the elevator. The user'sRFID tag may also be programmed to interface with the aforementioned PEDdata download device such that the tag pre-configures the system fordownload.

In an seventh aspect of the invention, the aforementioned displaydevices and information and control system are programmed to provideadaptive advertising or information display. In one embodiment, thespeech recognition system previously described is used to select anddisplay information based on one or more parameters includingstatistical or anecdotal sampling of the speech patterns of theoccupants. Alternatively, information entered via the aforementionedinput device (and network interface) may be used as a determinant in theadaptive advertising system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the information andcontrol system of the invention, showing those components local to eachelevator car.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the interface panel ofthe information and control system of FIG. 1, including the touch keypadand the display device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the information andcontrol system network architecture.

FIG. 4 is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of one embodimentof the building directory sub-system of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one embodiment of a building directorysub-system graphic location file, as shown on the display device of theinformation and control system.

FIG. 6 a is a plan view of one embodiment of a network input devicehaving dedicated function keys thereon.

FIGS. 6 b and 6 c illustrate one embodiment of an exemplary coordinatedgraphic weather display according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of the PED data downloadterminal of the invention,

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the capacity sensingsub-system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of one embodiment of the elevator floor sensorarray used in conjunction with the capacity sensing sub-system of FIG.8.

FIG. 10 is a logic diagram illustrating the method of operation of thecapacity sensing sub-system of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the monitoringand security sub-system of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of the elevator car touch panel usedin conjunction with the monitoring and security sub-system of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the monitoring andsecurity sub-system of the present invention,

FIGS. 14 a and 14 b are plan views of one embodiment of the parking andvideo monitoring displays, respectively, of the monitoring and securitysub-system of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of theidentification and access sub-system of the present invention. FIG. 16is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of the identification andaccess sub-system of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of one embodiment of a utility services selectiondisplay associated with the identification and access sub-system of FIG.15.

FIG. 18 a is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of a firstembodiment of the prompt mode of the adaptive advertising sub-system ofthe invention.

FIG. 18 b illustrates the library data file structure used inconjunction with the advertising sub-system of the invention.

FIG. 18 c is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of a secondembodiment of the advertising sub-system of the invention.

FIG. 18 d is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of a thirdembodiment of the adaptive advertising sub-system of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a logic diagram illustrating the operation of a fourthembodiment of the adaptive advertising sub-system of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is now made to the drawings listed above, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout.

It is noted that while the system and methods of the invention disclosedherein are described primarily with respect to an elevator ear, certainaspects of the invention may be useful in other applications, including,without limitation, other types of personnel transport devices such astrams or shuttles or moving walkways, or stationary devices such askiosks within the lobby or elevator waiting areas of a building. As usedherein, the term “building” is meant to encompass any structure, whetherabove ground or underground, permanent or temporary, used for anyfunction.

General Description

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of an improved elevatorinformation system is generally described. As shown in FIG. 1, thesystem 100 includes an input device 102, speech recognition (SR) module104, central processor 106 with associated motherboard 121, video RAM107, non-volatile storage device 108 containing a database (not shown),graphics co-processor 109, volatile or dynamic storage device 110 withassociated DMA module 139, audio amplifier and speaker module 111,speech synthesis module 112, micro-controller 123, PCI slots 147, anddisplay device 113. The system also includes a serial bus with universalasynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) 117 or alternatively universalserial bus (USB), as described in greater detail below with respect toFIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 2, the input device 102 of the presentembodiment is a touch-sensitive keypad and/or display screen of the typewell known in the electrical arts. The input device 102 includes avariety of different functional keys 114 on a keypad 116 (and/or on atouch-sensitive display screen 113, as described below) which allow theuser to initiate a query of the database either manually via the keypad116, display device 113, or audibly is through the speech recognitionmodule 104.

As shown in FIG. 1, the speech recognition module 104 of the presentinvention includes a high quality, high SNR audio microphone 118,analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 141, and linear predictive coding(LPC)-based spectral analysis algorithm run on a digital signalprocessor 125 having associated SR module RAM 127. It will be recognizedthat other forms of spectral analysis, such as MFCC (Mel FrequencyCepstral Coefficients) or cochlea modeling, may be used.

Phoneme/word recognition in the present embodiment is based on HMM(hidden Markov modeling), although other processes such as, withoutlimitation, DTW (Dynamic Time Warping) or NNs (Neural Networks) may beused. Myriad speech recognition systems and algorithms are available,all considered within the scope of the invention disclosed herein.

In the present embodiment, CELP-based voice data compression is alsoutilized for transmission and storage of voice data CELP algorithms ingeneral are useful for converting analog speech to a compressed digitalformat which is more rapidly and easily manipulated and stored within adigital system using less bandwidth and memory. CELP algorithms and lowbit rate vocoder technology are well known in the signal processing art,and accordingly will not be described further herein. Note that as usedherein, the term CELP is meant to include any and all variants of theCELP family such as, but not limited to, ACELP, VCELP, and QCELP. It isalso noted that while CELP is used as the basis of compression withinthe system 100, other types of compression algorithms and techniques,whether based on companding or otherwise, may be used. For example, PCM(pulse code modulation) or ADPCM (adaptive delta PCM) may be employed,as may other forms of linear predictive coding (LPC).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, signals generated by the microphone 118 aredigitized by the ADC 141 and processed using the aforementioned speechrecognition algorithm and the DSP 125 to produce digital representationsof the user's speech. The speech library or dictionary stored within theSR module memory 127 is used by the DSP 125 to match phenome stringsresulting from the LPC analysis with known words. Once a “match” isidentified, the central processor 106 and/or micro-controller 123implement the desired functionality, such as retrieving one or more datafiles from the storage device 108 for display on the display device 113.

The DSP 125 of the present embodiment is a Texas Instruments TMS320C6xVLIW digital signal processor or equivalent, although it will berecognized that other types of processors may be used. The 'C6x DSP ischosen for its speed and capability, thereby allowing for real-timespeech recognition. The central processor 106 and associated motherboardarchitecture (e.g., northbridge, southbridge, etc.) is optimally anIntel Pentium II®—based design, although others, such as the AMDK600-series processors, may be used in place of the Pentium II®. Theaforementioned USB is also advantageously used with the Pentiumarchitecture.

The information and control system keypads 116 and displays 113 (FIG. 2)are placed at waist and eye level, respectively, within the elevator car180 to facilitate easy access and viewing by the user, and limit theamount of incidental contact by passengers in the elevator. A pluralityof different input/display devices are optimally disposed within thesmart elevator to allow multiple occupants to obtain informationsimultaneously. A capacitive “touch keypad” is used as the input device102 in the present embodiment to increase input device longevity andthwart vandalism. Specifically, since the function keys 114 on thekeypad 116 do not have a mechanical actuating device (such as a springand set of electrical contacts) which will wear with time, they will asa general rule last longer. Additionally, since the keypad 116 has noopenings in the vicinity of the individual keys, any incidental contactwith deleterious substances such as cleaning fluids will not affect theoperation of the system or degrade its longevity. Similarly, vandalismis discouraged, since there are no openings or other access pointspresent within the interior of the elevator car. The keypad 116 may alsobe covered with a protective coating of the type well known in the artwithout affecting the operation of the panel, since, if properly chosen,such a coating merely acts as a dielectric for the capacitor formedbetween the underlying contacts and the user. It will be recognized,however, that any number of input devices, including “mechanical”keypads, trackballs, light pens, pressure sensitive “touch” keypads, orthe like may be used in conjunction with the present invention if sodesired. The touch keypads 116 are, in the present embodiment, mountedflush with the vertical wall surfaces 177 of the elevator car so as tomake them as physically unobtrusive as possible.

The touch-screen display 113 generates a variety of different messagesor display formats based on the user's input and query. These messagesand formats are stored as digital data on the storage device 108 (andtemporarily in video RAM 107) which is accessed by the processor 106.The display devices 113 of the present embodiment are low profilecapacitive LCD touch screen devices of the type well known in the art,although other types of displays, including “flat” cathode ray tubes,plasma, or MT displays may be used. Such displays optimally limit theamount of space required external to the interior volume of the elevatorcar to accommodate the system 100 of the present invention. Furthermore,it is noted that a non-touch sensitive display (not shown) may be usedwith the aforementioned input device 102 if desired, the latter actingas the sole input device (other than the speech recognition module 104and associated microphone 118).

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-2, the processor 106, video RAM 107,storage devices 108, 110, and other components (including necessarypower supplies, not shown) are disposed within equipment storagehousings (not shown) located on the exterior of the elevator car 180 soas to be invisible to the occupants thereof. This arrangement is usedprimarily to allow rapid access to and processing of data by the system100, thereby facilitating the rapid delivery of information to thesystem user. Hence, the information and control system 100 of eachelevator car is to a degree “self contained”, with the exception ofseveral common functions performed by a central server 170.

As shown in FIG. 3, the central server 170 is located remotely from theelevator cars and connected to the elevator car “clients” 180 via alocal area network architecture such as a bus, star, ring, star/bus, orother similar topology. A bus topology is shown in FIG. 3. The networkmay operate according to any number of networking protocols including,for example, ATM, Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IP, IP over ATM, or X.25.Connection cabling from the peripheral component interconnect (PCI)slots 147 on each motherboard 121 carrying the network interface devices(such as a LAN card) is run alongside the existing elevator power andcontrol cables within the cable bundle servicing each car.

In an alternative embodiment, data may be transferred between theelevator cars 180 and the remote server 170 via a wireless interface 310(FIG. 3) such as a direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) or frequencyhopping spread spectrum (FHSS) system as specified by IEEE Standard802.11. It will be recognized, however, that any wireless interfacecapable of accommodating the bandwidth requirements of the system 100may be used. Optical networking architectures and protocols (such asSONET) may also be used if desired; optical modulators and demodulators320, 322 of the type well known in the data networking arts are employedfor transferring data between the server 170 and the client(s) 180 insuch architectures.

It will be appreciated that many different arrangements for thedisposition of various components within the system, including, interalia, the processor/motherboard, storage devices, server, and memory(and the transfer of data and signals there between) are possible, allof which are encompassed within the scope of the present invention.

Building Directory Sub-System

The operation of the building directory sub-system is now described ingreater detail with reference to the logic diagram of FIG. 4, and thecomponents of FIGS. 1-3. As used herein, the term “building directorysub-system” refers to that collection of components, firmware, andsoftware within the information and control system 100 of FIG. 1 whichperform the building directory functions as described in the followingparagraphs.

Upon entering the elevator, the user initiates the “Building Directory”function of the system by pressing a function key 122 on the keypad 116or touch display 113. The keypad 116 and/or key 122 may be labeled withan appropriate label such as “Building Directory” or the like. Upondepressing the function key 122, a signal is generated which prompts thesystem to respond with an audible and/or visual query to the user,depending on how the system is pre-configured. For an audible query, thesub-system of the present embodiment retrieves a pre-stored CELP (orother compressed format) data file from one of the storage devices 108,110 and converts that file to an analog audio representation of voicevia the speech synthesis module 112 and processor 106. Speech synthesistechnology is well known in the signal processing arts, and accordinglywill not be discussed further herein. The audio signal from thesynthesis module 112 is applied to the amplifier and audio speaker 111to generate a voice prompt, such as “Name?”. Alternatively, orsimultaneously if desired, the system 100 retrieves a separate data filefrom the storage device 108, 110 which represents the current buildingdirectory. The building directory data file contains a plurality ofentries relating to tenants in the building where the system 100 islocated. Each entry is parsed into data fields which contain, interalia, the firm or entity name, its location (such as floor and suitenumber), and a list of the first and last names of all persons employedthere. The to processor 106 (and associated graphics co-processor 109with video RAM 107) initiate the display of all retrieved data entriesin the directory file on the display device 113 in a convenient format,such as an alphabetical list from which the user can select theirdesired option. The user may then speak the specific name of the partythey wish to find, or select the name using the touch display 113 orother input device (such as a track ball; not shown). When the userspeaks the name of the party desired, the speech recognition module 104takes the analog signal from the microphone 118 and converts it to adigital format by way of the DSP 125 and compression algorithm, aspreviously described. The directory file is retrieved (if not alreadydone), and the digitized and coded speech compared to the contents ofthe directory file to find any matches. Any matching fields within theentries of the data file are provided to the user, either audibly viathe speech synthesis module 112 and speaker 111 using prompts, orvisually via the display 113. In the present embodiment, audible promptsfor a single matching entry are of the form: “[Name], [Company], locatedat Suite X on Floor Y”. For multiple matching entries, the audibleprompts are produced in a sequential, predetermined order (such as thenumerical sequence number of the entries within the directory file). Forexample, the first matching entry (alphabetically) would be synthesizedin the foregoing form, followed by the second entry, etc. Upon hearingthe desired match in this voice activated embodiment, the user simplystates “Stop”, to choose the entry desired. At this point, a separateaudio prompt is generated (such as “Select (floor number) Floor?”) whichprompts the user to either select the floor number associated with thematched directory item and terminate their session (such as by stating“yes”), or continue on with the next entry (such as by stating “no”)until all entries are exhausted. The directory sub-system is programmedto store in memory 110 and “remember” previous files retrieved within agiven user's session so as to not repeat the same selections during thatsame session. For example, if there are five “Smith” entries in thedirectory file, and the user enters the query “Smith”, the sub-systemwill select a different “Smith” entry on each subsequent user queryduring the same session until the correct Smith is located or allmatching entries have been exhausted. In the present embodiment, asession is defined as the time period between two successive selectionsof the “Building Directory” function key 122, or the expiration of apredetermined period of time without a user input after selection ofthat function. The sub-system is also optionally programmed to allow theuser to append defining information to the initial query statement toform a Boolean search statement. For example, if the first “Smith”selected by the sub-system is not the desired one, the user may thenappend the query by saying “ABC Corporation” or “John” in response tothe next “Select (floor number) Floor?” query by the sub-system. Thesub-system will then recognize the new entry, and search all fields inall “Smith” entries to locate those listings having both the name“Smith” and “ABC Corporation” (or “John”), using Boolean “AND” logic.The user will then be prompted again to “Select (floor number) Floor?”.If no matching entries are found, the sub-system will either notify theuser to this effect, such as using an audio message such as “No matchesfound”, or will display or announce the nearest approximation of thequery based on a confidence rating. The confidence rating is calculated,for example, by the processor 106 running an algorithm; such confidencerating calculation algorithms are well understood, and indicate thepithy of the match using a numeric value or index.

As used herein, the term “match” includes any predetermined criteria forcorrelating one piece of data to another. For example, the buildingdirectory sub-system may be programmed to consider two pieces of data a“match” when all bits with the exception of the least significant bit(LSB) are identical. Many such criteria are possible, and all areconsidered to be within the scope of the invention disclosed herein.Furthermore, partial matches, such as when the user enters one wordwhich is matched within several different entries of the directory file,may be used as the basis for an appended search, as described below.

The directory file described above also optionally has a locationgraphic data file appended or linked thereto, which is retrieved fromthe storage device 108, 110 or the server 170. The location graphic fileis displayed on the display device 113 as a floor map graphic 502illustrating the location of the selected person or firm 504 on thatfloor in relation to the elevator cars 180, as illustrated in FIG. 5.For example, the location of the individual or firm being sought isilluminated or colored, made to flash, and/or an illuminated arrow 506is made to point to the desired location from the elevator. Numerousdifferent and well understood visual and audible formats for providingthe user with the desired information may be used with equal success,all of which are considered within the scope of the present invention.

The directory system 200 of the present embodiment also optionallyincludes directory files for nearby office buildings or establishments,thereby alerting the user through visual or audible prompt that they arein the wrong location once a match is confirmed by the user.

The user's session is terminated, or a new query initiated, when the“Building Directory” function key 122 is again depressed, after apredetermined time period without a user input, or upon the occurrenceof some other event as desired.

Network Interface

The information system 100 described above may also include otherfunctional aspects. As illustrated in FIG. 3, one embodiment of thesystem includes a network interface 300 (such an internet or intranetdata link) which permits the user to rapidly access updated informationon a variety of predetermined topics of interest. For example, the inputdevice 102 and/or display 113 of FIG. 2 is configured to includededicated function keys 602 correlating to Internet hypertext markuplanguage (HTML)-based hyperlinks, the hyperlinks corresponding to URLs(universal resource locators) for news headlines, weather, sportsscores, financial data, directions to local airports or publictransportation, etc, as shown in FIG. 6 a. Alternatively, the functionkeys 602 provide the user access to addresses within a local or remoteserver 170 via a LAN or intranet, which has the desired informationstored thereon. The function keys may also be integrated with the touchdisplay 113 (and the components previously described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 above) to allow the user to interact with the system 100via both the input device 102 and “soft” function keys on the touchdisplay 113. For example, if the “Weather” function key 604 is selected,the display would retrieve and generate an HTML page with representationof a map of the United States with hyperlinks for each state (FIG. 6 b).Once a state or geographical area was selected by the user via thehyperlinked “soft” keys 620 on the touch display 113, the user would bepresented with the desired weather information on the display, such asthe current weather conditions and five-day forecast in a mixedtextual/graphic format such as that of FIG. 6 c. Preset function keysand graphic representations with icons are used in the presentembodiment to facilitate rapid access and display to a more narrowlytailored collection of data, since most users will have only seconds tolocate, interpret, and remember the desired information. The generationof textual, graphic or mixed media displays based on HTML or otherlanguages or formats is well known in the computer arts, and accordinglywill not be described further herein.

The information and control system 100 may also be programmed to provideinformation via the display unit(s) 113 on a rotating basis without theneed for user intervention. For example, a given display unit 113 may beprogrammed to display a summary of local weather for the next five days(such as that shown in FIG. 6 c) for a first period of time, followed bya brief summary of breaking headlines for a second period, followed byfinancial highlights for a third period, and so forth. The update rate(i.e., the time between changing of the displays) should be adjusted soas to permit for adequate recognition and use by the occupants. Anupdate rate of approximately 10-15 sec. should be sufficient for mosttopics and applications, although this period may be varied as needed.

Referring again to FIG. 3, connection of the information and controlsystem 100 to external LANs, WANs, intranets, or internets (e.g., theInternet) is accomplished via the network interface 300. In oneembodiment, this interface 300 comprises a so-called “cable modem” ofthe type well known in the networking arts. Such cable modemseffectively overlay IP data on a coaxial cable which is also used tosupply analog video data to the end user. In the case of an elevatorsystem, cabling between the system server 170 and each car 180 may berun in parallel with the existing electrical services cable bundle, oralternatively a wireless interface (such as the aforementioned DSSS orFHSS transceiver 310) employed to transmit data between the cars and theserver 170. Many configurations for transmitting data between the carsand the system server 170 may be used. Alternatively, a dedicatedintegrated services data network (ISDN) line may be used to by theserver 170 to access external networks such as the Internet.Furthermore, it is feasible to utilize a wireless link as the networkinterface 300 between the server 170 and the LAN, intranet, or internet307.

Information Download to PED

Referring now to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the information andcontrol system 100 of the present invention is described. In thisembodiment, the system 100 is additionally provided with one or moredata terminals 702 which allow the user to plug a personal electronicdevice (PED) 704 having a standardized interface into the system toobtain a “download” of information. As used herein, the term “PED”includes, but is not limited to, personal digital assistants (PDAs) suchas the Apple Newton®, US Robotics/3COM PalmPilot®, or Palm III®, laptopcomputer, notebook computer, or the like. The data terminal includes aconnector 712 which is a 9-pin RS-232 serial connection of the type wellknown in the electronic arts, although other types of connectors andprotocols may be used. The download between the system 100 and the PED704 may be automatically initiated by plugging the PED 704 into the dataterminal 702 and thereby mating the connector 720 of the PED 704 withthe connector 712 of the data terminal 702, or manually initiated by theuser via the input device 102, touch display 113, or the PED 704software. The data terminal 702 is connected to the serial bus andprocessor 106 of the system 100 as shown in FIG. 1, whereby theprocessor 106 retrieves data stored on the storage device 108, 110, oralternatively downloads data from an external source via the networkinterface 300. A universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) 117or universal serial bus (USB; not shown) of the type well known in thecomputer arts is used to electrically interface the processor 106 of thesystem 100 and the PED 704.

As shown in FIG. 7, the PED 704 is received within a conformal slot 706formed in the display panel 708, thereby automatically aligning the dataconnector 720 of the PED 704 to that of the system 100. The slot 706includes a spring-loaded cover 713, and is sealed against anyintroduction of deleterious fluids or other material, and the terminalpins 710 of the connector 712 are recessed so as to avoid incidentaldamage. Once the download is complete, the user simply removes the PEDfrom the slot. Based on the volume of data downloaded, the entiretransaction takes only a few seconds. Application software resident onthe PED 704 is adapted to receive the downloaded data, store it withinthe storage device of the PED (not shown), and display it at a latertime. In one embodiment, the downloaded information comprises anelectronic “newspaper” having information relevant and useful to theuser, such as national/local news, weather, sports, and the like. Othertypes of information, such as the building directory, firm resumes,local telephone directory, maps of the local area, and such may bedownloaded as well. In another embodiment, the user may select the typeof information downloaded using a menu of function keys 114 on the panelkeypad 116 or touch screen display 113. For example, the user firstselects the “Download” function key, which then activates a menu on thetouch display 113 which allows him/her to select from a number ofpre-determined types of information using either dedicated function keysor alternatively functions shown on the touch screen display 113. In yetanother embodiment, the configuration of the data downloaded via theterminal 702 is determined based on data received from the RFID tag ofthe user, as described in greater detail below with respect to FIG. 15.In this fashion, the user may automatically receive information“tailored” to his/her needs.

Capacity Sensing Sub-System

Referring now to FIG. 8, the elevator system of the present inventionfurther optionally includes a capacity sensing sub-system 800 whichdetects the loading of the elevator car and selectively bypasses floorswhen the capacity is met, unless the floor is selected by one of theoccupants of the car. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the flooring 804 ofthe elevator car 180 is equipped with a plurality of piezoelectricsensors 806 which generate electrical signals based on the pressure (andforce) applied to them. Such sensors are well known in the electricalarts, and it will be recognized that other types of sensors and sensingarrangements may be used. The sensors 806 are calibrated or nulled forthe weight of the elevator flooring 804 and any pre-load resultingtherefrom. The electrical signal produced by each of the sensors 806 isamplified and made linear by a first stage amplifier 808 and fed to asumming amplifier 810 which sums the values for all of the sensors 806to produce a composite signal 812 proportional to the summed signals ofall the sensors. The composite signal 812 is integrated or averaged overthe entire time travelling between floors by an integrator circuit 813(or alternatively, an algorithm running on the processor 814), therebyaccounting for any apparent increase in weight due to acceleration inthe upward direction or deceleration in the downward direction, orapparent decrease in weight due to deceleration in the upward directionor acceleration in the downward direction. Linearization of the outputof each sensor 806 is required when the voltage output of the sensor isnot linear with respect to pressure; this allows the linear signals tobe summed directly within the summing amplifier 810, the output of which812 is linear in voltage with respect to pressure.

The composite signal 812 from the integrator 813 is correlated using theprocessor 814 to a known weight using a proportionality or scalingconstant stored in memory 815, and ultimately to a first estimate of thenumber of occupants within the car by way of another scaling constantalso stored in memory 815. For example, if a total pressure readingequating to 1500 lbs. (after null calibration) was obtained from thesumming amplifier 810, it could be correlated to an occupancy of tenpersons, assuming that the average person weighs 150 lbs. and that theirdistribution within the car was uniform.

However, such “average” cases of weight and distribution thereof withinthe car 180 do not always occur, since often times people riding in thecar may have significant disparities in size and weight, or may betransporting heavy objects. Furthermore, weights which are not aninteger multiple of the scaling constant present the system with anambiguity that must be resolved; i.e., how to round fractional amountsof a person. Accordingly, to address these situations, the firstembodiment of the sub-system 800 of the present invention compares theforegoing first occupancy estimate to the number of different sensors806 supplying a non-zero signal to the summing amplifier 810 as measuredby a counter circuit 811. The number of sensors 806 supplying a non-zerosignal is used as a lower limit on the occupancy estimate. Additionally,the number and disposition of sensors 806 within the car 180 are chosento provide the sub-system 800 with information regarding thedistribution of weight therein. For example, the elevator car 180 of thepresent embodiment is equipped with sixteen sensors positioned in a 4×4array of four rows and four columns, each sensor 806 being centeredwithin its fractional ( 1/16^(th)) area of the flooring, as shown inFIG. 9. Assume that the weight of 1500 lbs. is distributed within thiscar of FIG. 9 such that sensors “1” and “2” produce signals proportionalto 100 lbs. each, sensors “10” and “11” produce signals proportional to110 and 40 lbs. respectively, and sensors “13” and “14” produce signalsproportional to 150 lbs. each. Hence, the total weight present in thecar is 650 lbs. Assuming a scaling constant of 150 lbs. per person, afirst occupancy estimate (O_(E)) of 4.33 persons is produced. Since sixdifferent sensors 806 are producing non-zero signals, with four of thesix (i.e., “1”, “2”, “13”, and “14”) producing signals equal to those ofat least one adjacent sensor. As used herein, two sensors are adjacentwhen they are within one row and one column of each other. The remainingtwo of the six sensors in this example (i.e., “10” and “11”) areproducing signals different from those of adjacent sensors. Lookingpurely at the number of sensors producing non-zero signals (six), therecould theoretically be as many as six different entities within the car,assuming that no entity can take up less than 1/16^(th) of the availablefloor space within the car. Specifically, two 100 lb. people could bestanding next to one another atop sensors “1” and “2”, a 110 lb. and 40lb. person atop sensors “10” and “11”, respectively, and two 150 lb.people atop sensors “13” and “14”. This number is the uncorrectedoccupancy maximum value. Alternatively, however, it may be concludedthat as few as three people could be in the car, based on the assumptionthat a person may occupy up to and including two adjacent sensors (i.e.,no more than 2/16ths or ⅛th of the floor space in the car). For example,a 200 lb. person could be standing atop sensors “1” and “2”, with theirweight equally distributed. Similarly, a 150 lb. person could be tostanding atop sensors “10” and “11”, with weight shifted mostly ontosensor “10”. The third (300 lb.) person could be atop sensors “13” and“14”, with weight equally distributed. This latter value is theoccupancy minimum based sensor data, O_(mins). Note that for purposes ofcalculating O_(mins), each sensor is only counted once.

Hence based on the foregoing, the sub-system 800 would need to resolvethe ambiguity between (i) the first estimate calculated based purely onweight and a predetermined scalar quantity; (ii) the maximum theoreticalnumber of occupants based on weight sensor data; and (iii) the minimumtheoretical number of occupants based on weight sensor data. To resolvethis ambiguity, the sub-system 800 of the present embodiment imposes therestriction that any entity atop a sensor producing a signalproportional to less than an arbitrary lower threshold (say, 50 lbs. inthe present example) which is adjacent to another sensor producing anon-zero signal is part of the same entity atop that adjacent sensor. Inthe foregoing example, sensor “11” registers only 40 lbs. of weight, andis adjacent to both sensors “10” and “14”, which have non-zero output.Hence, the signal output from sensor “11” is assumed to be part of thesame entity which is atop sensors “10” or “14”. Since no other sensorsin the foregoing example registered less than the assumed threshold of50 lbs., all other sensors are presumed to have a distinct entity atopthem. Hence, the corrected maximum number of entities calculated by thesystem (O_(maxe)) is reduced from 6 to 5. Note that once a sensor havinga weight value less than the threshold is “paired” with another adjacentsensor, that adjacent sensor can not be paired with any others, therebypreventing double-counting. This restriction also addresses the instancewhere the measured weight on a given sensor of interest is above thelower threshold value, yet is due to two entities each located onadjacent sensors as well as the sensor of interest.

To further assist in resolving occupancy estimate ambiguity, theforegoing information is also correlated with the number of differentfloors selected within the elevator on the selection panel 820.Specifically, the number of different floors selected on the elevatorcar selection panel are used as a second lower limit or occupancyminimum, O_(minp). Using the preceding example, if the sub-system 800detects that five different floors were selected, the system wouldrecognize the presence of five persons, one corresponding to eachdifferent floor selected. It is assumed that the instance wherein oneperson selects multiple floors (such as through inadvertent or mistakenfloor selection) would occur infrequently, and would also not be of anysignificance since the number of people actually on the elevator in suchinstances would always be less than the estimate derived by the system,thereby affording more space within the car than estimated. In theconverse situation, for example when the first occupancy estimate ormaximum estimate indicate the presence of several different persons, yetthe number of different floors selected is fewer, the system does notset the fewer number of floors equal to the number of occupants, sincethe additional weight is likely represented by additional passengersgetting off at the same floor(s), or few passengers having cargo orother weighty objects with them in the elevator.

Lastly, the sub-system 800 utilizes (i) the first occupancy estimateO_(E), (ii) the corrected occupancy upper limit O_(maxc) determined bythe number of sensors 806 with non-zero output that exceed thepredetermined threshold value, (iii) first occupancy minimum O_(mins) asdetermined by the number of adjacent sensor pairs, and (iv) secondoccupancy minimum O_(minp) as determined by the number of floorsselected within the car 180, to produce a final occupancy estimate.Specifically, this final occupancy estimate O_(f) is the greater of thefirst occupancy estimate, corrected occupancy upper limit, the firstoccupancy minimum, and the second occupancy minimum. In the foregoingexample, these quantities are 4.33 persons, 5 persons, 3 persons, and 5persons; hence, O_(f) equals 5 persons. Note that the highest value ischosen for conservatism; this all but eliminates instances of theelevator car stopping at a floor with an active call signal when noadditional room exists, yet does not so under-utilize the car's capacityso as to be grossly inefficient FIG. 10 illustrates the logical flow ofthe foregoing embodiment of the method.

As a second example of the operation of the capacity sensing sub-system800, consider if 16 children each having a weight of 75±20 lbs. (and anaverage weight of 75 lbs.) were present in the previously describedelevator car. The total combined weight would equal 1200 lbs., andtherefore O_(E) would equal 1200/150 or 8. If O_(E) alone were used inthis instance, it would severely overestimate the remaining capacity ofthe elevator car. Next, assume each child to take up the spaceassociated with one sensor, whether individually or in combination;hence, O_(maxu) would equal 16, and O_(mins) would equal 8. Since nosensors 806 would register less than the assumed threshold value of 50lbs. (i.e., each sensor would be associated with one whole child orone-half of two children), O_(maxc) would equal O_(maxu). If 2 differentfloors were selected by the 16 children, then O_(minp) would equal 2.Hence, in this example, O_(f) would equal O_(maxu) or 16 persons, whichmatches the actual occupancy exactly.

Note that due to the reduced size of children as compared to the averageadult, it may be possible to have somewhat more children than adultswithin a given floor space of the elevator car; however, this effect isconsidered minimal since a child is generally much shorter than theaverage adult, and hence grows disproportionately in height as opposedto width (the latter relating to floor space required to accommodatethem). Stated differently, there is a minimum of floor space that anyfree-standing human requires; this value can be estimated and built intothe sensor array design of the present invention.

When the capacity of the elevator car 180 is reached, either by totalsensed weight or by the maximum number of occupants allowed (apredetermined value) as estimated by the sub-system 800, any subsequentcall signals received by the elevator control circuit 830 are routed toanother available car based on inputs received from a micro-controller817. In this fashion, the fully loaded car bypasses those floors withpeople desiring to get on the elevator, unless those floors are selectedby one or more of the occupants of the car 180. Similarly, as eachsuccessive floor selected by occupants of the elevator car 180 isreached (as based on an door open sensor 850 within the elevator controllogic, or other indicia), the sub-system 800 recalculates the firstoccupancy estimate O_(E), the corrected occupancy upper limit O_(maxc),the first occupancy minimum O_(mins), and the second occupancy minimumO_(minp) and produces a new final occupancy estimate O_(f) basedthereon. Hence, occupancy estimation according to this embodiment is anongoing and dynamic process.

Monitoring and Security Sub-System

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the information system 100 of thepresent invention optionally also includes an external monitoring andsecurity sub-system 1100 to enhance the safety of the occupants andprovide “early warning” of possible threats. Specifically, theaforementioned display device(s) 113 within the car 180 may beconfigured using one or more preset function keys to provide a displayof the area immediately surrounding access to the elevator on certainselected floors, such as parking garages. Video cameras 1102 of the typewell known in the electronic arts are positioned at certain advantageouslocations 1104 surrounding the elevator car doors on certain floors ofinterest generate a video signal which is passed to the informationsystem displays 113 through the aforementioned coaxial cable in theelevator wiring harness 1108. These video signals are selectively inputto the display unit 113 for viewing by the car occupants. As shown inFIG. 12. the display unit is controlled using “Video” function keys 1110on the keypad 116 or touch screen 113 to permit the user to select oneor more floors to view. “PIP”, or “picture-in-picture” technology of thetype well known in the electronic arts, along with a video multiplexer1112 allows users to cascade two or more images on the display 113 ifrequired. The user can over-ride the car stopping at any selected floorif desired, simply by depressing the “Override” function key 1114followed by the numeric key corresponding to the floor number. Thisoverride function can be instituted any time up until the signal isgenerated by the elevator control circuit 830 and associated logic toopen the elevator car doors 1106 at that floor. The user can alsocontact a remote security station 1125 if desired using a “SecurityCall” function key 1120 present on the keypad 116 or the touch screen113, and/or initiate temporary additional lighting 1122 in the area bydepressing a “Lights” function key 1124.

The features described above can also be “locked out” during certainperiods of the day (such as during busy morning or afternoon hours) whenmany people ride the elevators and the viewing, override, security, andlighting functions are generally not needed. For example, programming ofthe processors 106 within each elevator car in an office building couldinstitute the monitoring/override function from the hours of 6 pm until8 am and during weekends. Such programming can be reconfigured using theremote system server 170 and associated input device 171, as shown inFIG. 11.

In an alternate embodiment (FIG. 13), one or more miniature CCD cameras1310 are positioned at various locations 1104 around the elevator doors1106, so as to be effectively invisible to any person standing in thoselocations. In this fashion, criminals waiting to assault the occupantsof the elevator car upon their egress would likely not be alerted to thepresence of the monitoring system or cameras, thereby removing incentivefor them to wait in unmonitored areas so as to avoid being seen by thecameras. The CCD cameras 1310 of the embodiment of FIG. 13 output analogsignals to amplifiers 1312, a sample and hold circuit 1314, and A/Dconverters 1316, and then to a digital signal processor 1318 running avideo compression algorithm via a multiplexer 1319. Serial and paralleldrivers 1320, 1322 and a clock driver 1324 are also used to supportoperation of the CCD 1310, as is well understood in the electronic arts.The compressed data is then modulated onto an RF carrier by themodulator 1330, or alternatively a direct sequence or frequency hoppingspread spectrum waveform for transmission to the display unit 113, whichincorporates a spread spectrum receiver 1331 and video driver circuit1333. Using the foregoing architecture, video images generated by theCCD cameras 1310 are digitized and compressed so as to reduce thebandwidth required to transfer images to the display unit(s) 113. Itwill be recognized that other architectures for generating andtransmitting video data between a remote location of the cameras 1310and the display unit 113 of the present invention are possible; theforegoing embodiments are merely illustrative of two of sucharchitectures.

Referring again to FIG. 11, the monitoring and security sub-system 1100described above also optionally provides for the display of data frommotion detectors 1140 mounted in the vicinity of the elevator doors1106, yet out of the field of view of the video cameras 1102, 1310. Awell known tactic of criminals is to wait in poorly lighted areasadjacent to elevators in order to ambush unsuspecting victims emergingfrom the elevator once the doors are closed. In lieu of multiple videocameras 1102, motion detectors 1140 (such as those of the ultrasonictype) or alternatively, infrared radiation detectors 1150 may be mountedin such areas to apprise the occupants of the elevator that a person islikely present in an area adjacent to the elevator doors on a givenfloor. This information is displayed to the user within the elevatorusing any number of display formats, such as a light emitting diode, orflashing portions of an electronically generated display of the floor ofinterest corresponding to the locations of the detector(s), as shown inFIG. 12.

In addition to the aforementioned “early warning” features, the presentinvention also optionally includes the capability by which the user canselect the specific location on the floor of interest to which they willbe traveling from inside the elevator car, thereby enabling additionallighting, video surveillance, or other features. In one embodiment,shown in FIG. 14 a, a video or graphic representation 1402 of the floorselected by the user is generated and displayed on the display unit 113of the information system 100. Specifically, the floor display 1402 isinitiated after the user depresses a dedicated function key (forexample, a “Safety” function key on the keypad 116, or “soft” key on thetouch screen 113; not shown) followed by the floor number ordesignation. The user then inputs the destination to which they will betravelling on that floor by touching a corresponding area of the touchscreen 113. This input is converted to coordinates within the floor byan algorithm running on the processor 106 (FIG. 1), which are thencorrelated by the processor 106 to one or more of several zones 1404within the floor lighting system and/or security video monitoringsystems present within the building. This lighting and video monitoringequipment is then selectively activated for the zone(s) between theelevator doors and the destination, thereby providing enhancedvisibility for the user during their travel, and also video monitoringby the building's centralized security facility 1125. Lighting and videomonitoring is activated through a micro-controller 123 and associatedcontrol circuitry 1412 connected to the keypad 116 as shown in FIG. 1,although other configurations may be used. An audio or visual alarm 1414is actuated in the security facility 1125 to alert security personnel ofthe activation of the video monitoring function for that floor/zone,thereby drawing their attention thereto. Alternatively, in anotherembodiment, the signal from the remote video equipment is routed to thesystem 100 and display 113 within the elevator car 180, thereby allowingthe occupant to monitor the areas which they will be traversing. In suchembodiment, the video presented on the display panel screen is segmentedinto multiple parallel “windows”, such as into four segments 1420 a-dcorresponding to four video cameras located between the elevator car andthe selected destination on the floor of interest as shown in FIG. 14 b.

The operation of the foregoing functions is best illustrated by theexample of a parking garage in the basement of an office building, inwhich a user has parked during late night hours. Such garages typicallyare located on the ground level or basement of the building and are opento pedestrian access, thereby making them more accessible to criminals.During late night or weekend hours, these garages are also oftendeserted. When the user enters the elevator car 180 on a higher floorwithin the building, they first select the floor number to which theydesire to travel, in this case the garage (“G”) level. The user may thendepress the “Video” function key 1110 followed by the “G” key on thekeypad 116 (or touch screen 113) to monitor the video camera output atthe door of the elevator 1106 on the garage level, as well as any motionor IR sensors 1140, 1150 located thereabouts. Assuming no indications ofdanger are present, the user then depresses the “Safety” function key1111, which displays a map or plan view 1402 of the floor selected inrelation to the elevator doors 1106. The user then touches the map 1402in the general area where their car is parked, which activates thelighting in the zones between the elevator doors and the selectedlocation if not already activated, and initiates a direct video feed tothe building security office 1125 (or other desired location) from thevideo cameras 1102, 1310 covering those zones. These functions may beput on a timer or controlled by another input (such as the timeout of amotion sensor 1140 in the area) such that the monitoring functions areceased at an appropriate time or upon the occurrence of a desired event.The system may also be programmed to handle multiple zones on the samefloor (such as when multiple passengers on the elevator car 180 areparked on the same level), or multiple zones on different floors,

Identification and Access Sub-System

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, the occupant identification and accesssub-system 1500 of the present invention is described. As shown in FIG.15, the identification and access sub-system 1500 generally comprises anRFID tag 1502, reader 1504, and access database 1510 of the type wellknown in the art, which uniquely and automatically identifies occupantsof the elevator, and provides them access to certain restricted floors.In one embodiment, the RFID tag 1502 of the present inventionauthenticates the tag reader 1504 of the access sub-system 1500 suchthat when the tag 1502 is interrogated by the reader 1504 (such as whenthe user steps into the elevator car 180), an appropriate code orpassword must be provided within the RF signal from the reader for thetag 1502 to radiate its RF identification signal. See FIG. 16. In thisfashion, unauthorized access to the RF signature or emissions of the tag1502 through use of an unauthorized reader are frustrated. However, thistechnique can potentially be defeated through the coincident monitoringof the tag's emissions at close range when interrogated by an authorizedreader 1504, and subsequent replication of the monitored emissions fromthe tag 1502 to the authorized reader 1504. Accordingly, in conjunctionwith the aforementioned reader authentication process, the RFID tag 1502and reader 1504 of the present invention also optionally utilize anencrypted data protocol, such that any transmissions from the tag 1502are encrypted, and accordingly must be decrypted by the authorizedreader 1504 before the access database 1510 is searched. In oneembodiment, the RFID tag 1502 and reader 1504 comprise a direct sequencespread spectrum (DSSS) communication system incorporating a PN(pseudo-noise) spreading code of the type well known in thecommunications art. In another embodiment, a frequency hopping spreadspectrum (FHSS) having a hopping sequence is used to enhance security.The use of passwords, encrypted data protocols, and spread spectrumtechniques for security is well known in the art, and accordingly willnot be described further herein. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,775 entitled“Modulated spread spectrum in RF identification systems method” issuedJul. 23, 1996, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,629,981 entitled “Informationmanagement and security system” issued May 13, 1997, both incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

In the embodiment of FIG. 15, an RFID interrogator/reader 1504 is placedwithin the walls of the elevator car 180. The reader 1504 has limitedrange and is directional in nature such that it will not interfere withthe readers of other elevator cars nearby or other RF devices. Thereader 1504 interrogates the passengers of the car based on sensingtheir presence, such as by (i) the user depressing the elevator callbutton and the doors being provided an “open” signal by the controlsystem; or alternatively (ii) by sensing pressure on the one or morepiezoelectric sensors 806 present within the flooring of the car asshown in FIGS. 8-9 above. As will be recognized by those of ordinaryskill in the art, myriad different schemes for activation of the reader1504 are possible, all being contemplated for use with the inventiondisclosed herein. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the reader interrogatesany RFID tags 1502 in the possession of the car occupants, which in turnrespond by emitting RF energy at a particular frequency when properauthentication of the reader occurs. The RFID tags 1502 of the presentinvention are advantageously embedded within a thin profile access card1506 for ease of carrying by the user, although other configurations maybe used. The RF signal(s) received by the reader 1504 are then comparedby the processor 106 to a list of known or authorized entrants and theiraccessible locations residing within a database 1510 stored on the fileserver 170 or locally on the storage device 108, 110 in order to findthe entry or entries corresponding thereto. At this point, any matchingentries found cause the processor 106 to signal a micro-controller 1513to initiate a call signal to the control logic 1507 for a specific flooror floors authorized for access during after-hours operation per thedata file 1510, subject to proper password entry by the user. The useris then required to authenticate using a password input via the inputdevice 102 or touch screen 113 located inside elevator 180.Alternatively, one or more recessed or view-obstructed alpha-numerickeypads (not shown) are disposed within the elevator car to permit theuser to enter their password without it being seen by other occupants.

In the event that multiple RFID tags 1502 are present on the car 180,yet multiple occupants carrying such tags wish to go to a singlelocation (such as if one person with authorization for access in tofloor “A” is accompanying persons with authorization for other floorsonly), the other tag holders need only not authenticate the non-desiredfloors, at which point the system will refuse access to those floors,and not generate a call signal via the micro-controller 1513. Hence,people may only egress the elevator on the authenticated floor(s), orthe lobby.

Additionally, the access sub-system 1500 can optionally notify security(and/or the destination floor) of the user's destination and identity,and maintain a record of access. Such notification may be useful formonitoring the location of individuals within the building, and/oradvance warning of the arrival of a particular person. Furthermore, suchsecurity records can be used to archive the history of access toparticular areas during certain periods of time. The records may bemaintained on a remote central server 170, or locally within the accesssystem 1500 itself.

The user may also optionally perform other functions such as lightingand environmental control from the elevator car 180 using the accesssub-system 1500. Specifically, in one embodiment, the authenticated useris provided a display 1700 with several predetermined function keys1702, 1704 disposed thereon, as shown in FIG. 17. The functionsassociated with the keys include, for example, initiation or terminationof lighting or HVAC in various areas of the destination floor. Thedisplay may comprise a set of function keys 1702, 1704 on a keypad 116as described above, or alternatively comprise a graphic display on thetouch screen 113. Many other display formats and techniques, such as“soft” function keys on the keypad 116, which allow multiple functionsper key depending on operating mode, are possible. Using the accesssub-system 1500, the user may selectively start remote equipment such aslighting and/or HVAC on the authenticated floor in advance of theirarrival, and all from a single convenient location. Additionally, theRFID tag 1502 for a given user may be encoded with informationindicating the location of the user's individual office or work area.Hence, when the user is authenticated and selects either the HVAC orlighting initiation functions, these services are only activated in alimited portion or certain zones of the floor, thereby saving on energycosts. If the user desires, he/she may initiate the foregoing servicesfor their entire suite or floor (subject to authorization) by depressingthe “Global” function keys 1714 on the keypad before selecting theservice.

Lastly, the user may also use their RFID tag 1502 to permit theinformation and control system 100 of the present invention topre-configure the PED download function described above upon receipt ofan authenticated RFID signal. Specifically, the access sub-system 1500“remembers” each individual user's selected download configuration bystoring a data file at an address on the storage device 108, 110 orserver 170 referenced within the aforementioned security access database1510. As described above, each time the tag 1502 authenticates thereader 1504 and the tag emits it's RFID signal (which is subsequentlydecrypted by the reader 1504), the access control sub-system 1500attempts to match the user's ID to one located within the accessdatabase 1510. Upon a successful match, the access sub-system 1500 alsoretrieves the download configuration file from the address referenced inthe database 1510 associated with that user ID, and stores it in localmemory or storage 110, 108. Upon user authentication with theappropriate password via the input device 102, the information andcontrol system 100 transfers the download configuration file from memory110, 108, whereby the user may receive the pre-configured downloadsimply by inserting their PED 704 into the data terminal 702 associatedwith the authenticating input device 102. Note that when multiple userswith distinct RFID tags 1502 are present in the elevator car, thesub-system 1500 only transfers the download configuration file to thecontrol system 100 for those users completing password authentication,and then only to the data download terminal 702 associated with theauthenticating input device 102. Hence, multiple people within theelevator car 180 may authenticate and download data simultaneously, ifdesired (assuming that the elevator car is equipped with multiple datadownload terminal/input device pairs).

Adaptive Advertising Sub-System

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 18 a-d, the adaptive advertising sub-systemof the information and control system 100 is described. Using thisadvertising sub-system, the aforementioned elevator display devices 113and information and control system 100 may be programmed to provideadaptive advertising or information. As shown in FIG. 1, the advertisingsub-system 1800 is comprised of components resident within theinformation and control system 100, as well as data files and anadaptive algorithm (not shown) running on the processor 106.Specifically, the speech recognition module 104, DSP 125, processor 106,and other related components previously described recognize speech andconvert this speech into a digital representation. These digitalrepresentations are analyzed by the adaptive algorithm in one of twoadaptive modes: 1) prompt mode, and 2) statistical mode, as describedbelow.

In prompt mode, the speech of one or more passengers on the elevator car180 is sampled and analyzed in real time to determine the general topicof conversation between the passengers, FIG. 18 a illustrates thelogical flow of the prompt mode process. Specifically, the processor 106(FIG. 1) accesses a stored data file or library of sub-files of keywordsstored on the remote server 170 or local storage device 108 which relateto certain topics of interest. The library 1840 (FIG. 18 b) ideally doesnot contain common words such as conjunctions, prepositions, or thelike, but rather unique and preferably multi-syllabic words which arenot generic to many different topics. For example, the words“deposition” or “litigation” may be used as keywords indicating thepresence of a member of the legal profession. The predefined library1840 of keywords arranged into sub-files 1842 is present on the server170 or storage device 108; this library 1840 may be based on knowledgeof the building's tenants, on some demographic factor common to peoplewho most often use the elevator, or other factors. As illustration, theforegoing library sub-file 1842 consisting of, inter alia, the terms“deposition” and “litigation” would be appropriate for an applicationwhich is frequented by attorneys or paralegals. When the speechrecognition module 104 compares and matches these library terms with theactual speech of the occupants of the car, a binary value indicative ofthe matched library sub-file 1842 is generated. Note that thesesub-files 1842 are not physically separate files in the presentembodiment, but rather “virtual” files that relate to theirorganizational commonality. Specifically, each library word 1843 orentry includes several consecutive bits (such as an 8-bit data word 1844in the present embodiment) appended on the beginning or end of thedigital file data 1846 which indicate the sub-file(s) with which theword is associated. When a digital representation of a word within thelibrary 1840 is matched, the data word 1844 appended thereto is used asan address for advertising image data (and/or CELP audio data) held inthe storage device 108 or server 170. As a simple example, when theadvertising sub-system matches the digitized form of the spoken word“litigation” to an entry within the library file, the 8-bit wordappended to that entry of the library file is used to address the imageand/or audio data file(s) relating to legal topics stored on the localstorage device 108 (or server 170). This “legal” image data may contain,for example, a representation of an advertisement for legal documentservices, or a talking advertisement for a law firm. The image data fileis then retrieved and displayed on the display screen 113 using anynumber of well known graphic display techniques. The CELP or otherformat audio file is decompressed and converted to an analogrepresentation using the speech synthesis module 112 (FIG. 1) andamplified over the speakers 111 in the elevator car 180 if desired.

The system is further configured such that if multiple image data filesare requested by the processor 106, such as may occur when two differentsets of people within the elevator car 180 are discussing two unrelatedtopics, each different image data file is allocated to a differentavailable display 113 within the elevator car. For audio, only one datafile is converted and played at any is given time to avoid confusion.Furthermore, the sampling rate of the system may be set at a lowfrequency, such as once every 60 seconds, or only when the givenelevator car 180 is in operation, so that a given image is maintainedfor an appropriate period of time on the displays 113.

In the event that a word is recognized by the advertising sub-systemwhich includes two or more sub-file address references (such as for theword “trademark”, which may have connotations relating to bothintellectual property law and business), the sub-system allocates eachof the ambiguous references to a separate display (up to the existingnumber of unused displays 113 at that time), and then attempts toresolve the ambiguity by waiting for the next word which is matchedwithin one of the sub-files 1842 (FIG. 18 b) whose designation isappended on the library entry 1843 for the first word. If that nextmatched word does not resolve the ambiguity, the process is repeateduntil the ambiguity is resolved. During ambiguity resolution, theexisting file displayed on each display screen 113 is maintained for theduration of the process, thereby providing an apparently seamlessdisplay to the occupants of the car.

In an alternate embodiment of the “prompt” mode (FIG. 18 c), the systemaccesses the building directory file discussed previously with respectto FIGS. 1-4 using the floors selected by the user to obtain pertinentadvertising information. Specifically, when a passenger riding on thecar 180 selects a floor via the floor selection panel (not shown), oralternatively calls the elevator from a given floor, the system accessesthe building directory file to obtain information regarding the tenantson that floor. The building directory file for each tenant includes anappended data word which uniquely identifies the business area or otherdescriptive information about the tenant. For example, an intellectualproperty law firm residing on the fourteenth floor of a building wouldhave an appropriate code, as represented by a multi-bit data word,indicating that they were engaged in the in (i) legal practice, and (ii)intellectual property as a sub-specialization. Whenever the fourteenthfloor was selected within the elevator car 180, or alternativelywhenever an elevator call was made from the fourteenth floor andanswered, the system would display advertising images, video, or textmessages relating to the field of intellectual property law within thecalling/answering car until or beginning when the fourteenth floor wasreached, respectively. If multiple floors were selected within the car,as is commonly the case, the sub-system would prioritize the messagesdisplayed based on the direction of travel of the car and it's proximityto a given floor. The system also optionally estimates the remainingtime until the floor is reached as part of its analysis.

As an example of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 18; if four peopleenter the same elevator car at the lobby level, and each depress adifferent floor number (say the third, seventh, eighth, and eleventhfloors), the sub-system 1800 would prioritize the first floor to beencountered (i.e., the third floor) in its direction of travel anddisplay advertising pertinent to the tenant on that floor. Since thetravel time between the lobby (first floor) and third floor would beonly perhaps 10 seconds, the sub-system 1800 would choose advertisingappropriate to that time slot, such as a fixed image. Once the carreached the third floor and the doors opened, the sub-system 1800 thenprioritizes the next floor to be encountered (here, the seventh floor).Accessing the building directory file for the seventh floor, thesub-system 1800 would then choose advertising appropriate that floor andthe remaining time available (perhaps 15 seconds). After the seventhfloor was reached, the sub-system 1800 would then prioritize the eighthfloor. If the time interval to the next floor was too short asdetermined by a predetermined parameter, such as a minimum time intervalin seconds, the sub-system would prioritize the next floor whose timeinterval exceeded the minimum (in this case, the eleventh floor). Whenall passengers were unloaded, the car 180 would remain at the lastselected floor (eleventh) until another call was initiated. When thisnew call was received, the sub-system 1800 would retrieve advertisingrelevant to the floor from which the new call was initiated, and displaythat information once the floor was reached by the car 180 (asdetermined by a position sensor, the opening of the doors, or any otherwell known means). It is apparent that under very crowded conditionswhere many often closely situated floors are selected by the occupantsof the car, the sub-system 1800 may encounter few instances where theestimated time of travel of the car exceeds the aforementioned minimumparameter value. In such cases, the sub-system 1800 may be made torevert to “prompt” mode audio sampling as described above (FIG. 18 a),or some other alternative scheme for selecting pertinent advertising.Many different variations of the basic approach described herein arepossible, all of which are considered to be within the scope of theinvention.

In the case of multiple tenants residing on one floor, the sub-system1800 can be programmed to display images pertinent to each tenant on thefloor based on a selection routine. In one embodiment, if multipleunrelated tenants occupy a given floor, and that floor is selected by aperson entering the elevator at the lobby, the sub-system 1800 will pickimage data relating to the different tenants on a rotating basis suchthat each subsequent time that same floor is selected, an imageappropriate to a different tenant will be retrieved and displayed.Alternatively, the selection may be made random, or even be coupled tothe speech recognition module 104 to weight one choice over theother(s). Many other arrangements are possible, all of which areconsidered to be within the scope of the invention disclosed herein.

Referring now to FIG. 18 d, the so-called “statistical” mode of theadaptive advertising sub-system 1800 is now described. During operationin statistical mode, the sub-system 1800 gathers statistics on thespeech patterns of its occupants over a predetermined (or open ended)period of time, in order to derive statistics on the most frequentlyencountered words within its library. Using prior examples, if a givenbuilding has a substantial population of law firms, the speechrecognition system 104 may encounter legally-related words or sub-filespresent in its library 1840 (such as “deposition” or “litigation”) mostoften. The system of the present invention effectively builds histogramsfor each of the words in its library 1840 over the sampling period, andstructures its advertising accordingly. Specifically, as shown in FIG.18 d, the statistical mode algorithm running on the processor 106 ofFIG. 1 increments a statistical data file on the storage device 108,110, server 170, or other location. The sub-system 1800 samples thisdata file at a predetermined periodicity (such as every hour, every 24hours, or every update cycle of the advertising display) to determinethe distribution of occurrences of each word. This distribution is thencompared to a historical data file which represents the number ofinstances advertising associated with each sub-file has been displayed.Advertising data files are then selected and displayed by the processor106 and algorithm such that the desired proportionality between thesampled statistic and the display sequence is maintained. Returningagain to the foregoing example, if words relating to the “legal”sub-file constituted 20% of the matches in the sampled data over a givenperiod, then legally-related advertising would be displayed by theadvertising sub-system approximately 20% of the time.

It is noted that the aforementioned speech-related adaptive advertisingmodes (FIGS. 18 a, 18 c, and 18 d) may be automatically disabled whenthe speech recognition module 104 is in use or required by anotherfunction within the information and control system 100. For example,when the previously described “Building Directory” function key 122 isdepressed, the prompt and statistical advertising modes are interruptedor frozen by the processor 106 until the selected function is terminatedeither manually by the user or via the expiration of a system clock(i.e., the function “times out”). This interrupt allows the buildingdirectory function to operate unimpeded without having to shareresources within the information and control system 100 with theadaptive advertising sub-system 1800. It will be recognized, however,that the information and control system 100 may so configured to allowsuch parallel operation if desired.

Alternatively, the aforementioned network interface 300 of FIG. 3 may beused as an input to the adaptive advertising sub-system 1800. As iscommonly used with prior art Internet browsers, adaptive “banners”display advertising related to a user's query on a search engine. In thepresent invention, the advertising graphics presented on the display 113may either be anecdotally or statistically adaptive to the user'sinformation queries. Specifically, in one embodiment of the anecdotalsystem (FIG. 19), user inputs received via the input devices 102 ortouch screens 113 are provided to an adaptive algorithm which identifieseach query type as falling within one or more predetermined categories.As the user selects a given function key 114, a code unique to thatfunction key is also generated. The advertising data files, each havinga “tag” (such as a code or data bits embedded or appended to the addressin memory) are then searched by the algorithm to match those fileshaving the same category tag. These files are then retrieved from thestorage device 108, 110, or server 170 in a predetermined order (such assequence based on ascending address locations, or some other parameter),and displayed on the display device 113. The display of these files maybe in sequential fashion, each for a predetermined interval, oralternatively one file may be displayed until another function key 114is selected. Many other display schemes are possible, consistent withthe invention.

As an example of anecdotal adaptation, consider the case where the userselects the ‘Weather” function key on the keypad 116 (or touch screen113). The sub-system 1800 retrieves and displays the desired weatherinformation on the display device, while also retrieving and displayingadvertising graphics relating to weather (such as for a local televisionstation's weather reports) on an advertising placard or banner on thesame or another display. If the user then selects another function key114, the sub-system 1800 retrieves another advertising graphic filerelating to the newly chosen function.

In a statistical adaptation, the choice of function keys 114 by eachsuccessive user adds to a data file which is generated by a statisticalalgorithm running on the processor 106. The algorithm calculates andstores a running total of the number of times each function key 114 (oreach functional category) is selected over a predetermined period.Advertising graphics are displayed on the display unit(s) 113 inproportion to this statistic. For example, if the “Weather” function keywere actuated five times as often as the “Stock Quotes” key over a giveninterval, the sub-system 1800 could be programmed to retrieve anddisplay weather-related advertising on average five times as often asfinancial advertising

Note that the foregoing anecdotal and statistical adaptation embodimentsmay also be used together. For example, the sub-system 1800 could beprogrammed to display advertising on a statistical basis during periodsof non-use, while displaying advertising anecdotally during use. Manyother variants are also possible.

It is noted that while various aspects of the invention disclosed hereinare described in terms of specific embodiments (and logic diagrams) ofmethods and processes, other embodiments of these methods and processesare possible consistent with the invention. For example, certain stepsin the disclosed methods may be deleted, and/or additional steps added.Furthermore, the order of performance of steps may in many cases bepermuted, or multiple steps disclosed as being performed in series maybe performed in parallel, and vice versa. The embodiments disclosedherein are therefore considered merely illustrative of the broadermethods claimed herein.

While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointedout the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied tovarious embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions,substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device orprocess illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1.-40. (canceled)
 41. A personnel transport deviceconfigured to transport multiple persons and provide information theretoduring said transportation, the transport device comprising: a passengercompartment; and computerized information apparatus disposed at leastpartly within the passenger compartment, the computerized informationapparatus comprising: a wireless network interface; data processingapparatus in data communication with the network interface; at least onedisplay device in communication with the data processing apparatus;computerized logic in data communication with the data processingapparatus and comprising at least one computer program operative to runon at least a portion of the data processing apparatus; and speechprocessing apparatus in data communication with the data processingapparatus and the computerized logic, the speech processing apparatusconfigured to at least receive a person's voice input relating toinformation which that person desires to find, and produce a digitalrepresentation of the voice input, the digital representation beinguseful to computerized logic for conducting a search of at least one ofa local or remote database; wherein said computerized informationapparatus is configured to enable, substantially simultaneously, ad hoccommunication links with each of a plurality of portable electronicdevices of respective persons within the passenger compartment, the adhoc communications links each being configured to exchange data betweenthe computerized information apparatus and the respective portableelectronic device, at least a portion of the exchanged data obtainedfrom a remote server via at least the wireless network interface. 42.The transport device of claim 41, wherein the at least one displaydevice comprises a plurality of display devices, at least some of theplurality of display devices mounted within the passenger compartment ofsaid personnel transport device substantially at eye level so thatrespective ones of the persons can view respective ones of the at leastsome display devices.
 43. The transport device of claim 41, wherein theplurality of display devices mounted within the passenger compartmenteach comprise a touch screen input and display device configured toreceive a person's input via a screen thereof.
 44. The transport deviceof claim 43, wherein the computerized information system is configuredso that the received person's input from the screen causes access of aremote networked server, the access via at least the wireless networkinterface.
 45. The transport device of claim 41, wherein the dataobtained from the remote server is personalized for a person using thepersonal electronic device in at least one respect.
 46. The transportdevice of claim 45, wherein the personalization of the transferred datais conducted based at least in part on a plurality of user-suppliedpreferences stored on a remote server.
 47. The transport device of claim41, further comprising data bus apparatus in data communication with thedata processing apparatus and configured to transfer data between thecomputerized information apparatus and a portable electronic device ofthe person when the portable device is placed in data communication withthe data bus apparatus; and wherein at least one of the plurality of adhoc links is established via the data bus apparatus.
 48. The transportdevice of claim 47, wherein the data bus apparatus is configured to becompliant with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard, and the data busapparatus comprises a USB compliant multi-pin connector disposed withinthe passenger compartment.
 49. The transport device of claim 41, whereinthe plurality of ad hoc links comprise links compliant with astandardized data transfer protocol.
 50. The transport device of claim41, wherein at least a portion of the data obtained from the remoteserver comprises digital video data.
 51. The transport device of claim50, wherein the digital video data comprises digital video data that hasbeen compressed using a digital compression algorithm, the compressionenabling the compressed video data to be communicated via at least thewireless network interface and with reduced transmission bandwidth. 52.The transport device of claim 41, wherein the computerized informationapparatus is configured to communicate with application softwareresident on each of the portable electronic devices so as to at leastfacilitate transfer of at least a portion of the respective obtaineddata to the respective portable electronic device for storage andsubsequent rendering thereon.
 53. The transport device of claim 52,wherein the at least a portion of the respective obtained datatransferred to each of the respective portable electronic devices forstorage and subsequent rendering thereon comprises data relating to adifferent topical area than the data provided to others of the portableelectronic devices.
 54. A personnel transport device configured totransport multiple persons and provide information thereto during saidtransportation, the transport device comprising: a passengercompartment; and computerized information apparatus disposed at leastpartly within the passenger compartment, the computerized informationapparatus comprising: a wireless network interface; data processingapparatus in data communication with the network interface; a storagedevice in data communication with the data processing apparatus;computerized logic in data communication with the data processingapparatus and comprising at least one computer program operative to runon at least a portion of the data processing apparatus; and speechprocessing apparatus in data communication with the data processingapparatus and the computerized logic, the speech processing apparatusconfigured to at least receive a person's voice input relating toinformation which that person desires to find, and produce a digitalrepresentation of the voice input, the digital representation beinguseful to computerized logic for conducting a search of at least one ofa local or remote database; and a plurality of display devices, at leastone of the plurality being in data communication with the dataprocessing apparatus, the plurality of display devices being disposedwithin and substantially physically integrated with the passengercompartment so as to enable individual ones of the multiple persons tovisually perceive respective ones of the display devices during saidtransportation.
 55. The transport device of claim 54, further comprisingvideo data apparatus in data communication with the computerizedinformation apparatus and configured to output digital video data, thedigital video data which may be viewed on at least one of the pluralityof display devices.
 56. The transport device of claim 55, wherein thedigital video data comprises digital video data that: (i) has beencompressed using a digital compression algorithm, the compressionenabling the compressed video data to be communicated via at least thewireless network interface and with reduced transmission bandwidth ascompared to uncompressed video data; and (ii) sourced from a remoteserver in data communication with the computerized information systemvia at least the wireless network interface.
 57. The transport device ofclaim 54, further comprising video data apparatus in data communicationwith the computerized information apparatus and configured to accessdigital video data that has been stored on the storage device, andoutput digital video data, the output digital video data which may beviewed on at least one of the plurality of display devices.
 58. Thetransport device of claim 57, wherein the output digital video datacomprises data that has been compressed using a digital compressionalgorithm, the compression enabling the compressed video data to becommunicated with reduced bandwidth as compared to uncompressed videodata.
 59. The transport device of claim 54, further comprising digitalvideo apparatus in data communication with the data processing apparatusand configured to receive digital video data from a plurality ofsources, the digital video apparatus including multiplexing apparatusenabling the digital video data from the multiple sources to bedisplayed on one of the plurality of display devices substantiallysimultaneously.
 60. The transport device of claim 54, wherein: theplurality of display devices within the passenger compartment eachcomprise a touch screen input and display device configured to receive aperson's input via a screen thereof, and the computerized informationsystem is configured so that the received user's input from the screencauses implementation of a desired function of the computerizedinformation system on at least the display device receiving the person'sinput via the screen thereof.
 61. The transport device of claim 60,wherein the implementation of the desired function comprises renderingdigital video data stored on a storage apparatus in data communicationwith the data processing apparatus on the display device receiving theperson's input via the screen thereof.
 62. The transport device of claim60, wherein the implementation of a desired function comprises access ofa remote networked server, the access via at least the wireless networkinterface; and wherein the computerized information system furthercomprises video data apparatus in data communication with the dataprocessing apparatus and configured to output digital video data, thedigital video data which may be viewed on at least one of the pluralityof display devices, the digital video data comprising digital video datathat: (i) has been compressed using a digital compression algorithm, thecompression enabling the compressed video data to be communicated via atleast the wireless network interface and with reduced transmissionbandwidth as compared to uncompressed video data; and (ii) sourced fromthe remote networked server in response to the person's input via thescreen.
 63. The transport device of claim 54, wherein the computerizedinformation system further comprises video rendering apparatusconfigured to (i) obtain a plurality of digital video data from at leastone storage apparatus, the plurality of digital video data comprising aplurality of different previously generated video content; and (ii)cause simultaneous display of individual ones of the plurality ofdifferent video content on respective ones of the display devices. 64.The transport device of claim 63, wherein each of the different videocontent comprises digital video data that has been compressed using atleast a digital video compression algorithm.
 65. The transport device ofclaim 54, further comprising: video data apparatus in data communicationwith the computerized information apparatus and configured to accessdigital video data that has been stored on the storage device, andoutput digital video data, the output digital video data which may beviewed on at least one of the plurality of display devices; and at leastone key- or button-based input device in data communication with thevideo data apparatus and configured to enable a person within thepassenger compartment to provide an input via the input device, theinput relating to a desired function of the video data apparatus. 66.The transport device of claim 65, wherein: the digital video datacomprises a plurality of different video data; and the desired functionof the video data apparatus comprises invocation of a mode whereby thedisplay of the digital video data on at least one of the plurality ofdisplay devices is changed from one of the plurality of different videodata to another of the plurality of different video data.
 67. Thetransport device of claim 66, wherein each of the plurality of displaydevices comprise color-enabled capacitive touch screen input and displaydevices, each having a substantially flat touch-sensitive screen, thescreen which is substantially rectangular in shape and wider than it istall.
 68. The transport device of claim 66, wherein each of theplurality of display devices comprise color-enabled thin film transistor(TFT)-based flat screen, the screen which is substantially rectangularin shape and wider than it is tall.
 69. The transport device of claim54, further comprising data bus apparatus in data communication with thedata processing apparatus and configured to transfer data between thecomputerized information apparatus and a portable electronic device of aperson when the portable device is placed in data communication with thedata bus apparatus, the computerized information apparatus further beingconfigured receive data from the portable device, the received datacausing the computerized information apparatus to invoke a desiredfunction.
 70. The transport device of claim 69, wherein the data busapparatus is configured to be compliant with a Universal Serial Bus(USB) standard, and the data bus apparatus comprises a USB compliantmulti-pin connector disposed within the passenger compartment. 71.Personnel transport apparatus, comprising: a passenger compartment; anda computerized information apparatus disposed at least partly within thepassenger compartment and comprising: a wireless network interface; dataprocessing apparatus, the data processing apparatus comprising at leasta central processor and a digital signal processor (DSP) and a graphicsprocessor, at least a portion of the data processing apparatus being indata communication with the wireless interface; a first substantiallyflat-screen display device in data communication with at least a portionof the data processing apparatus; a speech processing apparatus in datacommunication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatus,the speech processing apparatus configured to receive a representationof a user's voice input, the voice input received via at least onemicrophone disposed within a passenger compartment of the transportdevice, the voice input comprising at least part of a name of a businessentity for which the user desires information, and to generate a digitaldomain output based thereon; a speech synthesis apparatus in datacommunication with at least a portion of the data processing apparatusand configured to synthesize human-intelligible speech output comprisingone or more words; input apparatus in communication with at least aportion of the data processing apparatus and configured to enable theuser to cause the computerized information apparatus to enter afunctional mode whereby the user can provide the voice input to thespeech processing apparatus; camera apparatus in data communication withat least a portion of the data processing apparatus and configured togenerate digital data relating to at least one area proximate thetransport device for display on the first display device; data busapparatus in data communication with at least a part of the dataprocessing apparatus and configured to transfer data between thecomputerized information apparatus and a portable electronic device ofthe user when the portable device is placed in data communication withthe data bus apparatus; data storage apparatus in data communicationwith at least a portion of the data processing apparatus, the datastorage apparatus comprising both volatile and non-volatile storagedevices; a database of information stored on at least a portion of thedata storage apparatus and relating to at least a plurality of businessentities, the database further comprising information relating to alocation of each of the plurality of business entities; and computerizedlogic cooperative with at least a portion of the data processingapparatus and configured to receive the digital domain output of thespeech processing apparatus, and utilize the at least part of the namerendered in the digital domain output to conduct a search of thedatabase for one or more business entities having the at least part ofthe name associated therewith; and a plurality of second displaydevices, at least one of the plurality of second display devices beingin data communication with a digital video apparatus, the plurality ofsecond display devices being disposed within and substantiallyphysically integrated with the passenger compartment so as to enableindividual ones of multiple persons within the compartment to visuallyperceive respective ones of the second display devices during operationof the personnel transport apparatus.
 72. The transport apparatus ofclaim 71, wherein the computerized logic is further configured toreceive a user input relating to current topical information which theuser desires, and cause access of at least a remote server via thewireless network interface to obtain the desired current topicalinformation.
 73. The transport apparatus of claim 71, wherein thedigital video apparatus is configured to access digital video data thathas been stored on a storage device of the computerized informationapparatus, and output digital video data, the output digital video datawhich may be viewed on at least one of the plurality of second displaydevices; and further comprising at least one key- or button-based inputdevice in data communication with the video data apparatus andconfigured to enable a user to provide an input via the input device,the input relating to a desired function of the video data apparatus.74. The transport apparatus of claim 73, wherein: the digital video datacomprises a plurality of different video data; and the desired functionof the video data apparatus comprises invocation of a mode whereby thedisplay of the digital video data on at least one of the plurality ofsecond display devices is changed from one of the plurality of differentvideo data to another of the plurality of different video data.
 75. Thetransport apparatus of claim 71, wherein the computerized apparatus isconfigured to render images on at least one of the plurality of seconddisplay devices using at least the graphics processor.